Anyone applying to Yale GEPN program for Fall 2009?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi,

Since there was a very extensive thread last year about application process to Yale, I thought I would start a new thread for 2009 hopefuls. I am working on my application and wanted to know who else chose Yale as one of their options. What program? How is the application process going? Essay writing? Any anxieties? I am applying to the Adult Advanced Practice Nursing but still deciding on the specialty. The hardest part for me is the essay writing as English is not my first language, but I have been working on it for some time now and getting close to finishing the final version. Anyone else wants to share?

I am also choosing between Yale and Johns Hopkins, and I seem to be making lists of pros and cons that are nothing if not circular. I wasn't that into Yale until the interview day--I think they do a great job of selling the school. I like that it's a small, close-knit program. There seems to be a good sense of community in the program, and I like that the student body skews a bit older (I'm 29 and married). I don't like that the work experience is limited, and I've read complaints that Yale doesn't prepare its students clinically as well as other schools--largely because you never work as an RN in the program (depending on specialty, apparently, but what I was reading regarding this did not mention which programs were better than others). This is really why I'm leaning towards Johns Hopkins...Unfortunately, though, JHU would be an extra year for me--my application was processed late because for some reason they wanted 12 year old transcripts from an economics class I took at a community college in high school. I had forgotten this transcript existed, but it showed up on my undergrad UCLA transcript as a transferred GE course (apparently, the A I got in a micro econ class my junior year in high school was relevant to assessing my ability to succeed in a nursing program now??? Annoying bureaucracy). Anyway, they lost the transcript the first time, so it took nearly 6 weeks for them to receive the second copy and they would not review my application until it was received. Thus, the accelerated BSN was full by this time (rolling admissions), so they offered me a spot in the traditional program, which I'm thinking might not be so bad. It's four semesters with summers off. You can work after the first semester in the hospital. I like that you can do the master's part-time while working for the hospital, which will give you money towards tuition. But I'm also looking at the downside that I don't want to be in school for the next 6 years, and I wonder if the cost analysis of working and doing it more slowly is better than taking out the loans, doing it in three years, and getting out and starting work???

It's also a difference in specialties for me...At Yale, I'd be studying to be a Gerontological NP--I decided to go into nursing because off the patient population and have worked/volunteered with this population, so I don't think I'm going to be changing my mind about that. At JHU, I'll come out as an Adult NP, which some have told me is more versatile because I can work with a wider segment of the population if I choose but that I can still opt to work with elderly patients. I suppose the difference would be more related to research than practice, but I'm not really sure. Any opinions on that? I guess, ideally, if I decide Yale, I already want to change specialty from just GNP to combined AGNP...I know the discourage switching, but I feel like this is almost not really switching, right? Right? Maybe...maybe not. You never know until you ask, I guess.

In trying to make this decision, I've decided I must visit Baltimore, so I'll also be attending the Admitted Student's day next week (I bought $150 roundtrip tickets from Portland, Or--where I'm now living, though I am from CA and just moved back to Oregon, husband's home, to get ready to start a program--to Baltimore last night for next week...never had used priceline before, but thus far, I'm a huge fan). My husband's coming with me, and we're going to spend a few days there to see if we enjoy the city. New Haven seemed very "eh" to me, but I loved the university. If I fall in love with Baltimore, then I think I'll choose Hopkins. However, if I think Baltimore is disgusting, I'll probably choose Yale. Anyone else in my position going to JHU next week?

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I think starting a Gmail group later on, once people decide they are going to yale and have received more info for housing and finaid, would be a good idea. Then we can post more personal information (tel numbers, names, housing info, move in dates) without worrying about it being on the web. Can't wait to meet all of you!

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Lars 23: Unclear. From what I can tell, it seems like it doesn't really matter, as long as you're going to get your Master's by the end of it all. It would be more of an issue if you didn't finish the GEPN obviously, and there you are with just an RN, after two years and a lot of money spent. I will pose this question to the ARNP I work with, tomorrow, and see if she has any ideas either way. I know I've asked her and other NP's before, but I am fuzzy on their responses...

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Biddy, I'm in a similar situation. I'm turning 26 next month and my S.O. will be moving with me wherever I choose to go. Although he's been open to either location, it's obviously still a concern...and to be honest my visit to New Haven made me a little nervous in that respect. I'm also wondering about the differences in the type of students between the two schools...something I'm hoping to find out more about at hopkins on the 27th. I had a feeling that Hopkins would be more students who are undergrads or straight out of college but I don't know if that's necessarily the case.

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Hey Lars23,

I have a similar impression about Hopkins having a younger population. That doesn't necessarily bother me--in taking prereqs at community colleges, I often found myself feeling like a mother/tutor to a bunch of 18/19 year olds who seemed a bit clueless about how things actually work. In that respect, I found being older had a certain advantage (especially because I don't look older, and none of them had any idea I was ten years their senior until I confessed as much). However, because I'll be moving to a new city where we don't have any friends (though I have lots of friends in NYC, so at least that's a fairly short drive away), I do think it's important to feel like I'll be able to form connections with peers at school.

I'll be at Visitor's Day--we're flying in Wednesday, leaving Saturday--so perhaps I'll see you there. I'm also planning on attending the happy hour the night before. Let me know if you're going to attend. I'll be wearing a red sweater (that's a bad joke by the way).

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Lars 23: Unclear. From what I can tell, it seems like it doesn't really matter, as long as you're going to get your Master's by the end of it all. It would be more of an issue if you didn't finish the GEPN obviously, and there you are with just an RN, after two years and a lot of money spent. I will pose this question to the ARNP I work with, tomorrow, and see if she has any ideas either way. I know I've asked her and other NP's before, but I am fuzzy on their responses...

My thoughts on this are that working as an NP in the states it won't matter much to at all to not have the BSN. Where it will matter is if you decide to work as an RN (during the masters portion or if you have to step down for some reason) and if you want to work internationally. While you might be able to swing an accelerated bachelors (at least in Canada) to masters, the chance of Yale's program being accepted anywhere else looks to be about zero. Anyhow, that's the thing weighing heaviest on my mind about Yale, the lack of BSN and lack of opportunity to work as an RN I think will both limit future options as far as moving and employability.

But then, the faculty, administration, and student body at Yale all seemed fantastic so I'm sure it would be a solid education if flexibility isn't a major consideration!

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My thoughts on this are that working as an NP in the states it won't matter much to at all to not have the BSN. Where it will matter is if you decide to work as an RN (during the masters portion or if you have to step down for some reason) and if you want to work internationally. While you might be able to swing an accelerated bachelors (at least in Canada) to masters, the chance of Yale's program being accepted anywhere else looks to be about zero.

Charmed, I'd like to hear more on what you are referring to with regard to having trouble working internationally without a BSN? I've never heard that concern expressed before.

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I also had faculty tell me at Yale that students do pick up a few shifts as an RN during the MSN portion of the program....did anyone else hear that or am I crazy?

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Charmed, I'd like to hear more on what you are referring to with regard to having trouble working internationally without a BSN? I've never heard that concern expressed before.

Well, I've looked a lot into Canada and Australia specifically, but to some degree I assume this basic idea will apply to other places. Basically, the direct-entry masters we have is unique to the States. When foreign nurses are looked at to see whether their degree is acceptable in a country, the element they look for is whether or not it is comparable to the education in that country, which is where these direct entry things get tricky. For example, in Canada accelerated BSNs are 2 years then you are required to work for 2-3 years before entering an NP program - are you then equivalent to an NP there in you go to Yale? Not really.

For foreign-trained NPs, both in Canada and Australia, you must first meet the standards for RN licensure, then they look at your NP stuff. The NP portion would likely be ok, but with Yale it's hard to figure out the RN part, where does the RN end and the NP begin? It looks like after that summer yet you can't take the NCLEX yet so there must be not enough hours or something like that, that threw me off when I heard that. I mean, to reiterate, it has to look like their system - for example, most if not all provinces in Canada no longer accept ADNs, only BSN-educated nurses; Yale graduates don't have either, it's hard to know where they fit in.

I'm sure it would be fine if you want to do mission work in third world countries or things like that, to me it just looks like it would be a big hassle if not impossible to get a transfer to anywhere outside the US (if you look on the international forum, it seems like even regular accelerated RNs have trouble since all other countries second degrees are 2 years or more, and they have a BSN!). This is probably a non-issue for most people, it's just something I'm really struggling with because I have loved living in both Australia and Canada and I can't imagine being inextricably tied to the States. Does that explain it better?

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I also had faculty tell me at Yale that students do pick up a few shifts as an RN during the MSN portion of the program....did anyone else hear that or am I crazy?

I specifically remember this being discussed at Yale info session that after we pass our NCLEX exam, it is strongly encouraged that we get some RN work experience. And I was told that most students work part-time as RNs while continuing on with their specialty. So I don't think you are crazy (or maybe we both are?)

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I also had faculty tell me at Yale that students do pick up a few shifts as an RN during the MSN portion of the program....did anyone else hear that or am I crazy?

I also was told that in my interview when I asked, but I'm highly skeptical - it takes around 3 months I believe to do orientation for a new grad, so I suppose if you did it it would be in the summer before your final year, but that would require a) studying for and passing the NCLEX during your winter semester and b) finding a hospital willing to put in the time and money into training a new RN who's guaranteed to leave in a year or two. On top of that, since according to the website you have to do the whole program FT, you would either have to work PT, which it seems is hard to do as a new grad, or FT, which I think would be pretty intense with going to school FT too. If you need the money, it's likely worth it, but otherwise I can't imagine.

I don't mean to sound down on Yale, but my impression was that they were really geared towards training NPs and NPs only. I think that's totally fine if you are 100% sure it's what you want to do and you can handle the repercussions that may come along with not working as an RN first (some limitations in job opportunities and some derision from other medical professionals). A lot of people do really well without the RN are are happy, there are a lot of success stories around.

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I wouldn't think of going into a direct entry program if i didn't want to be an NP. I would just go for an accelerated BSN...going to a master's program for 3-4 years and not being positive that i wanted to be an NP seems a bit extreme. I haven't heard of anyone having trouble getting an NP job right out of direct entry programs...other than people who know of someone who heard from someone on these types of forums. On interview day, I asked about people getting jobs and it seems EVERYONE is hired after school. And of the people i actually know who are NP's, all 3 went to direct entry programs and started working immediately after with no problems. I think it all comes down to where you see yourself and where you think you will learn the most.

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